Indicia indicator and register for impulse transmitting devices



July 10, 1934. w GREENBERG 1,966,118

INDICIA INDICATOR AND REGISTER FOR IMPULSE TRANSMITTING DEVICES FiledNov. 18, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l wima Greenbe r 1 attorney,

July 10, 1934.

w. GREENBERG 1,966,118

INDICIA INDICATOR AND REGISTER FOR IMPULSE TRANSMITTING DEVICES FiledNov. 18, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zhwentor William Grecnberg attorneyPatented July 10, 1934 INDICIA INDICATOR AND REGISTER FOR IMPULSETRANSMITTING DEVICES William Greenberg, Portland, Oreg.

Application November 18, 1932, Serial No. 643,187 In Great Britain May7, 1932 8 Claims.

This invention relates generally to devices for indicating andregistering indicia. The invention may be used in conjunction with anyimpulsetransmitting-device which is adapted for setting up electrical ormechanical impulses between two or more points and the invention isparticularly adapted to be used in conjunction with the type ofimpulse-transmitting-device that is connected to switches whichautomatically respond to interruptions of a metallic circuit in order totransmit a series of impulses.

The important object of my invention is to bring indicia into view whichrepresents the impulses that have been set up by the impulse-trans- .5mitting-device to which my invention is applied and to remove from viewsuch indicia when desired.

Another object of my invention is to provide a compactly arrangedindicia indicator and/or "0 register that is adapted to be easilyattached to or made an integral part of any impulse-transmitting-deviceor which may be operated independently of such transmitting devices ifdesired, said indicia indicator and/or register being efficient,comparatively cheap and. easy to operate.

It is well to note that as the present automatic telephone isconstructed, it is impossible to determine whether or not the individualwho is dial- ..ri; ing a number is dialing the correct letters and/ ornumerals during the dialing operation. It often happens that a wrongnumber is dialed unintentionally. By the use of my invention, suchoccurrences cannot happen since the individual who is dialing canobserve what he has dialed and thereby he is able to detect any error hemight make while dialing. Sometimes an individual dials the correctnumber but finds the line busy. With the present type of telephone hemust remember the telephone number until he tries to dial again.However, by the use of my invention, the number previously dialedremains recorded until he desires to call it again. It is evident,therefore, that the telephone user is aided materially withoutdecreasing the efficiency or materially altering the construction of thetelephone.

This invention is closely related to my Letters Patent No. 1,884,663granted on October 25, 1932, upon Number indicators and registers forautomatic telephones, and to my Letters Patent No. 1,932,965 grantedOct. 31, 1933, upon an improvement in Indicia indicators and registersfor automatic telephones. The objects and advantages. 5 pointed out inthe two patents above referred to, apply, in a large measure, with equalforce to the present invention. However, there is presented in thisinvention an entirely new mechanism to produce the results desired aswill hereinafter be pointed out in detail.

The invention is directed to other objects and possesses other featuresof novelty and advantage and consists in the new and useful provision,formation, construction, combination and interrelation of parts, membersand features, all of which will become more apparent from the followingdetailed description, having reference to the accompanying drawingswhich illustrate but one embodiment by which the invention may berealized and which is shown in conjunction with an automatic telephoneof the present construction merely for more graphically setting forththe application of the invention, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front view in perspective of a telephone having associatedtherewith one of my indicia indicating and registering devices.

Figure 2 is a plan view of one of my indicia indicating and registeringdevices, portions of which are broken away to show the manner ofassembly, and the working relationship between some of the elements. Thehousing is shown in cross-section and a portion of the indicating andregistering frame is shown in cross-section.

Figure 3 is a side View, partially in section, illustrating, in part,some of the elements used in my indicia indicating and registeringdevice, the view being taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in thedirection indicated.

Figure 4 is a perspective, plan view of a selector containing aplurality of serrated-surfaces which play an important part in selectingthe indicia indicating and registering members which are a part of myinvention.

Figure 5 is a perspective, front view of a guidemember in which aplurality of actuating-members move.

Figure 6 is a perspective, side view of one of the locking-ratchetswhich is a part of my invention.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary, side view, partially in section, of aportion of my invention, illustrating the position of thelocking-ratchets, one of which is shown in Figure 6, relative to acommon-release-member and their position relative to other elements ofthe release-mechanism.

Figure 8 is a side view of an actuating-ratchet secured to the housingand operatively associated with the selector which is secured to thesupport extending from the frame.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary, side view, partially in section,illustrating, in part, some of the elements used in my indiciaindicating and registering device and showing some of theactuatingmembers disposed within the guide-members, the view being takenon line 99 of Figure 2, looking in the direction indicated.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary, plan View, partially in section, of aportion of my invention, illustrating the relationship between theselector, the actuating-members, the guide-member, the support, theactuating-ratchet and the locking-pawl.

Figure 11 is a plan view of the indicia indicating and registeringdevice as it appears during its rotation relative to the housing and thecam associated therewith. The housing is shown in cross-section.

Figure 12 is a perspective, side View of the frame forming a part of myinvention.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary, sectional, end view of some of the indiciaindicating and registering members illustrating their position relativeto each other and to the frame, the view being taken on line l313 ofFigure 3, looking in the direction indicated.

Figure 14 is a perspective, side View of still other guide-memberssecured to the frame and adapted to hold the actuating-rack-members inposition.

Like reference characters refer to corresponding parts throughout theseveral views.

While one of my indicia indicating and registering devices is shown inuse with a definite type of desk telephone (see Figure 1), I do not wantthis disclosure, however, to be taken as a limitation since my device iscapable of being used with any type of telephone instrument in useeither in the United States or in any foreign country.

In Figure 1 is shown base 1 of the automatic telephone illustrated whichhas column 2 extending upwardly therefrom, and transmitter--.ead 3 restsupon the free end of the column. Receivinghook 5 extends from the sideof column 2 upon which rests receiver 4. The indicia indicating andregistering mechanism is enclosed in housing 6 which may be secured tobase 1 in any desirable manner. A spiral-cam 7 which has substantially anarrow beginning as shown at 8 and ends with a materially greater widthas shown at 9. The function of cam 7 will be explained in detail later.

A frame 10 is removably secured to dialingshaft 11 of the automatictelephone illustrated in any well known manner, as by nut 12. Adialing-disk 13 is secured to shoulders 14 and 15 of the frame 10. Anopening 16 is disposed through the dialing-disk 13 through which aportion of the indicia-carrying-members, shortly to be described, may beviewed. A shaft 17 is journaled within bearings 18 and 19 secured to thesidewalls of the frame 10. A plurality of indiciacarrying-wheels 20,each having a gear-hub 21, are rotatably mounted upon shaft 17. Each ofthe indicia-carrying-wheels has indicia, such as letters, numerals orother symbols on its outer periphery 22 and each of theindicia-carryingwheels also has an internal-ratchet 23 disposed upon theinner periphery 24.

A guide-member, as guide-block 27 illustrated in Figure 5, is secured inany well known manner I to one end of the frame 10. Guide-block 27 has aplurality of parallelly disposed guide-wells or slots 26 and aguide-well or slot 59 intersects slots 26 and lies at right anglesthereto parallel to the base of the guide-block. Spiral-cam '7 isinzregisterable alignment with slot 59.

A plurality of uniquely shaped actuated-bars have one of their endshingedly secured to corresponding gear-rack-members 28 in any well knownmanner and they have their free ends 36, 3'7, 38, 39, and 41respectively disposed within corresponding slots 26. Each of theactuating-bars 25 have near the ends 36 to 41 inclusive notches (seeFigure 9). The actuating-bars 25 are of sufficient depth to permit theperiphery of the spiral-cam '7 to contact the notches 60 when thespira1cam enters into slot 59. There are as many gear-rack-members 28and slots 26 as there are actuating-bars 25.

Guide-blocks 29 and 30 are secured to the sides of the frame 10 in anysuitable fashion in spaced relationship with each other. Each of theguide blocks 29 and 30 has a plurality of slots 31, the slots inguide-block 29 being in direct alignment with the slots in guide-block30. Gear-rackmembers 28 are disposed within and are guided by slots 31.Each gear-rack-member 28 has a plurality of gear-teeth 32 on one of itsfaces. Each gear-rack-member 28 is maintained at all times in directalignment with its corresponding gear-hub 21 associated with theindicia-carryingwheels 20, because they are guided by the slots 31. Theteeth 32 of each of the gear-rack-members are at all times in mesh withthe teeth of its corresponding gear-hiub 21. A cross-member,

as a bar 33, is secured at one end of and to the side-walls of frame 10in a suitable manner. Cross-bar 33 is spaced from the guide-blocks 29and 30 and has a plurality of reacting elements, as coil-springs 34,secured thereto and the free ends of the coil-spring are secured to thecorresponding gear-rack-member 28. As long as coil-springs 34 are nottensioned, the indicia-carrying-wheels 20 remain in normal dormantposition. The horizontal movement of the gear-rack-members 28 away fromthe coil-springs tensions the springs, so that when the gear-rackmembersare freed the tension on the coil-springs 34 is released, so that thegear-rack-members may return to their normal dormant position. In

order to prevent the teeth 32 of the gear-rack- "3 members 28 fromgetting out of mesh with the teeth of the corresponding gear-hubs 21,there is provided upon each of the gear-rack-members a stop 35 whichchecks the return of the gearrack-members when the tension is releasedfrom :11

coil-springs 34.

A selector 42, shown in detail in Figure 4, has a slot 46 disposedlongitudinally thereof. A plurality of ratchet-teeth 47 are disposedupon one side of the selector 42 and a like number of ratchet-teeth 48are disposed directly on the other side of the selector in directalignment with ratchet-teeth 47.

A support, as a plate 43, is secured to the frame 10 oppositeguide-block 27 by any suitable means, as bracket 43A. The plate ispositioned relative to the base of the frame 10, so that it rides abovethe spiral-cam '7. Selector 42 is slidably disposed relative to theplate 43 and is guided in its movements by pins 44 and 45 that aresecured to the plate and pass through slot 46. A cam-guard 52, whosefunction will be presently explained, extends upwardly from plate 43 andpins 55 and '74, whose functions will also be explained later, extendupwardly from the plate. A reacting element, as a spring '73, has one ofits ends secured to the selector 42 and the other of its ends to pin 45.When the selector is moved away from the pin 45 the spring 73 istensioned.

A selector-actuating-member, as a ratchet 50, is pivotally secured tohousing 6 in any well known manner. Selector-actuating-ratchet 50 has acamming-surface 56 and a catch 53 outwardly extending therefrom. Areacting element, as a coil-spring 51, which is at all times undercompression, is disposed between and engages the housing 6 and theselector-actuatingratchet 50. The catch 53 of theselector-actuating-ratchet is in working alignment with ratchetteeth 48and cam-guard 52 and the cammingsurface 56 is in working alignment withpin 55 extending upwardly from the plate. A shaft 61 is journaled to theside-walls of the frame 10. A plurality of locking-ratchets 62 aremounted about shaft 61. Each of the locking-ratchets 62 has a dog 63 atone end which is adapted to engage the internal ratchet-teeth 23disposed upon the inner periphery 24 of each of theindiciacarryingwheels. A release-bar is secured to the free end 64 ofeach of the locking-ratchets 62 in any suitable manner. A push-rod 66 issecured to and extends upwardly from the release-bar 65 and throughdialing-disk 13. A reacting element, as a spring 75, has one of its endssecured to release-bar 65 and the other end to one of thelocking-ratchets 62. When downward pressure is applied to push-rod 66,the spring '75 is tensioned, therefore, when pressure is removed fromthe push-rod, the spring forces the push-rod 66 back to normal dormantposition. A supporting-rod 67 extends immediately beneath theactuating-bars 25 and is maintained in position relative thereto bylinks 68 secured to the ends of the supporting-rod 67 and to the outsidelocking-ratchets 62.

A lever-beam 69 is pivotally secured within a yoke 71 that is secured tothe base of the frame 10. A link '72 has one of its ends secured to therelease-bar 65 in any suitable manner and the other of its ends to thelever-beam 69. The free end of the lever-beam 69 has a slot '70 therein.A stub-shaft 57 extends upwardly from the base of the frame 10.Lever-beam 69 has its slottedend disposed about stub-shaft 57. Areacting element, as a spring 58, is disposed between and secured to thefree end of the stub-shaft 57 and to the upper surface of thelocking-pawl 49 and is normally held under compression as well as undertension. The locking-pawl 49 is in working alignment with ratchet-teeth4'7 and normally rests upon the plate 43 and pin 74, extendingtherefrom.

M odus opcrandi This completes the detailed description of the variouselements which form a part of the invention. However, in order to morefully explain the steps necessary to bring into view a group ofcharacters, such as letters and numbers, forming a call number, and inorder to show the precise manner of removing the characters from viewwhenever desired and of placing the mechanism in normal dormant positionready for a new dialing cycle, the following mode of operation ispresented:

It is well to note at this time that most of the mechanism comprisingthe invention is supported upon the frame 10 which rotates about thedialing-shaft 11. The selector-actuating-ratchet 50 and the spiral-cam 7are the only elements that are secured to the housing 6. Let us firstassume that a call number has been dialed, thereby placing and retainingall of the indicia-indicatingwheels 20 in their selected position. Inorder to return the indicia-indicating-wheels and all the rest of themechanism to their initial starting position ready for a new dialingcycle, push-rod 66 is pressed downwardly. This causes the dogs 63 to beremoved from the internal-ratchet-teeth 23, consequently permitting thecoil-springs 34 to seek their normal tension and thereby move thegear-rack-members 28 in the direction of the springs 34. Since theindicia-carrying-wheels 20 have gear-hubs 21 and since these gear-hubsare in mesh with teeth 32 of the gear-rack-members, the.mdicia-carrying-wheels will return to their normal dormant position.Since the supportingrod 67 is indirectly connected with the twooutside-looking-ratchets 62, the supporting-rod will be raised at thesame time that the dogs 63 are removed from the internal-ratchet-teeth23 and by raising the supporting-rod all of the actuatingbars. 25 arelifted. The lever-beam 69 is also indirectly connected with push-rod 66,so that when pressure is applied to the push-rod, the slottedend 70 0fthe lever-beam disengages the lockingpawl 49 from the ratchet-teeth 47,thus permitting the selector to return to its normal dormant position.The ends of the actuating-bars 25 may then be placed on the selector 42as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2 shows the position of the various elements prior to the initialstage in the dialing cycle. In this stage the selector-actuating-ratchet50 is maintained out of engagement with the ratchet-teeth 48 by pin 55contacting cam-surface 56. The selector 42 is now in normal dormantposition and has disposed thereupon ends 37 to 41 inclusive ofactuating-bars 25 and in this manner keeping these actuating-bars inslots 26 but away from slot 59. The end 36 of the first actuating-oar ispositioned upon the upper-surface of the spiral-cam 7, so that theactuatingbar is within slot 59. As the dialing-disk is rotatedclockwise. the frame, to which it is attached, also moves clockwise, andsince the spiral-cam 7 is in registerable alignment with the slot 59 inwhich the actuating-bar 25, having end 36, is located, the periphery ofcam '7 will contact the notch 60 of said actuating-bar and cause it tobe moved horizontally and since it is hingedly secured to thecorresponding gear-rack member 28 it too will move horizontally.Consequently, the corresponding indicia-carrying-wheel, by virtue of itsgear-hub 21 being in mesh with teeth 32 of the gear-rack-member, isrotated. The corresponding locking-ratchet 62 maintains theindicia-carrying-wheel in the selected position to which it has beenrotated. Each of the other actuating-bars are progressively selected, sothat upon the second clockwise movement of the dialing-disk, the notch60 of end 37 will be in operative engagement with spiral-cam 7 and thecorresponding indicia-indicating wheel will .be rotated and maintainedin its selected position. Prior to the initial clockwise movementlockingpawl 49 engages the first tooth of ratchet-teeth 47 of selector42. It will be understood then that prior to the initial clockwisemovement, the selector is in normal dormant position with lookingpawl 49disposed within the first tooth of ratchetteeth 47 and end 36 of thefirst actuating-bar is in operative engagement with spiral-cam 7.

It will be seen that when the elements are actuated in the mannerrelated, not only are the indicia-carrying-wheels rotated to theirselected positions, but they are also retained in said selectedposition. during the clockwise or counterclockwise movement of thedialing-disk and associated elements. It is only when the releasemechanism is actuated by pressing downwardly push-rod 66 that theindicia-indieating-wheels and associated elements return to their normaldormant position.

During the counterclockwise movement of the dialing-disk the free endsof the actuating-bars which are not maintained upon the selector arepermitted to fall below the slot 59 and under the spiral-cam '7. Theprecise manner of selecting and placing the nextindicia-indicating-wheel in condition for rotation is clearlyillustrated in Figure 10 which shows that two of theindicia-indicating-wheels have already been rotated and theactuating-bar associated with the third indiciaindicating-wheel is aboutto have its end 38 placed upon the spiral-cam '7, so that its notch willbe engaged by the periphery of the spiralcam, and thereby begin thethird stage in the dialing cycle.

Figure 10 illustrates the position of the various elements associatedwith the selector 42 just before the frame 16 and associated elementshave returned to their normal dormant position. In

I this position locking-pawl 49 is shown engaged to the second tooth ofthe ratchet teeth 4'7. It will be seen that the catch 53 slides alongthe cam-guard 52 until it reaches the end 54 thereof at which time thecatch engages the second tooth of the ratchet-teeth 48 and forces theselector 42 to be moved away from pin against the action of the spring'73, so that locking-pawl 49 is made to engage with the third tooth ofratchet-teeth 47. Immediately thereafter, the

I pin 55 contacts cam-surface 56 and forces the catch to disengage fromthe ratchet-teeth 48. The cam-guard 52 and pin 55 are placed upon theplate 43 in such a manner, and the selectoractuating-ratchet 50 is soconstructed and placed in such position upon the housing 6 that theselector 42 is moved a slight distance away from the pin 45 against theaction of spring '73, and consequently, the end 38 of the thirdactuatingbar is permitted to fall upon the spiral-cam '7. The mechanismis now in readiness for the third stage in the dialing cycle. As washeretofore related, by rotating the dialing-disk clockwise, rotation isimparted to the third indicia-indicating-wheel. The remainingindicia-indicatingwheels have rotation imparted thereto and are retainedin exactly the same manner. As it has been stated before, the selector42 is moved away from pin 45 against the action of spring 73 asufficient distance to permit the ends of the actuating-bars to fall,one at a time, upon the surface of the spiral-cam 7 thus placing theactuating-bars in working relation with the spiralcam. It is believed tobe obvious that the indicia-carrying-wheels and their associatedelements together with the selector and its associated elements can beplaced in normal dormant position by simply pressing downwardly thepush-rod 66 in the manner heretofore explained. This can be done eitherat the completion of all the stages of the dialing cycle or during anystage of the dialing cycle.

From the description it will be noted that the invention is believed tosatisfy the objects set forth hereinbefore.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and upon which Idesire to secure Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, in combination with an automatictelephone, a housing secured to the base of the telephone, a spiralcaminwardly extending from the housing, a frame, carrying indicatingelements, mounted upon the dialing-shaft of the telephone, meansassociated with said frame for coacting with the spiral-cam, saidcoacting elements being adapted for progressively indicating the numberbeing dialed, and manually manipulative means car ried by the frame forreleasing the indicating elements while a connection is maintained or atany time desired.

2. In a device of the class described, in combination with an automatictelephone, a housing fixedly secured to the telephone, a spiral-camassociated with the housing and inwardly extending therefrom, a framefixedly secured to the dial-shaft of the telephone, means associatedwith and carried by the frame and coacting with th spiral-cam forvisually and progressively indicating the number being dialed, and meansfor clearing the dialed number at any time desired and while aconnection is being maintained.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination with an automatictelephone, a housing adapted for being secured to a telephoneinstrument, a spiral-cam secured to the inner surface of the housing andinwardly extending therefrom, a frame fixedly secured to thedialing-shaft of the telephone, indicating mechanism associated with thecam and carried by the frame for automatically indicating the numberthat is being dialed, and means associated with the indicatin mechanismfor automatically returning the indicating mechanism to dormant positionwhen manually released and while a telephonic connection is maintained.

4. In combination with an automatic telephone, apparatus for indicatingand registering the call number as it is dialed, including, a housing, aframe secured to the dialing-shaft of the said telephone, a shafticurnaled within the frame, j

means associated with the shaft to visibly indicate and register thedegree of rotation of the dialingdisk of said telephone on successivedialing operations, means for rotating said first mentioned meansincluding a plurality of gear-rack-memi1. i

hers in mesh with a plurality of gear-hubs, a support secured to thehousing, a selector slidably di posed thereupon, means for moving theselector at the completion of each stage of the dialing cycle, means forprogressively selecting the first i-i mentioned means, means forretaining the first mentioned means in selected position after rotationthereof, and m ans for returning the first mentioned means and theselector to normal dormant position at any time desired.

5. Apparatus as characterized in claim 4 including, a guide-blockdisposed upon the frame, a plurality of actuating-bars disposed therein,and a spiral-cam associated with the housing in registerable alignmentwith the LllCiE-blOCk.

6. An indicia indicating and registering device comprising a base, adialing-shaft extending therefrom, a housing secured to the base, aframe secured to the dialing-shaft, a dialing-disk secured to the frame,indicia-carrying-members rotatably disposed within the frame, gear-hubssecured to said indicia-carrying-members, a plurality ofgear-rack-members in mesh with the gear-hubs, a guide-block disposedupon the frame, said guide-block having a plurality of slots therein, aplurality of actuating-bars secured to the gear-rack-nembers anddisposed within the slots of the guide-block, a plurality oflocking-pawls associated with the indicia-carrying-members and adaptedto retain the same in their selected position, a support secured to theframe opposite the guide-block, a selector slidably disposed relative tosaid support adapted to hold the free ends of the actuating-bars, aselector-actuatingratchet secured to the housing adapted tointermittently engage with the selector, a spiral-cam secured to thehousing, said spiral-cam adapted to coact with the free ends of theactuating-bars when said free ends are permitted to fall thereupon bythe selector, and means for returning the indicia-carrying-members andselector to normal dormant position.

7. In a device of the class described, in combination with an automatictelephone having a dial rotatably mounted thereupon, a housing adaptedfor being secured to a telephone instrument, a spiral-cam secured to andextending inwardly from the inner side wall of said housing, a framefixedly secured to the dialing shaft of said telephone, a plurality ofgraduated indicating elements mounted within said last-mentioned frame,means for independently rotating the indicating members to therebyvisibly register the amount of rotation imparted to the dialing disc,means for actuating said first-mentioned means, said second meansadapted for manipulation by the said spiral-cam, means for locking theindicating members in their respective rotated position, and manuallyoperable means for returning the indicating members to their normaldormant position while a connection is maintained or at any timedesired.

8. In a device of the class described, in combination with an automatictelephone having a dial rotatably mounted thereupon, a housing upwardlyextending from and removably secured to the base of said telephone, aframe attachable to the dial shaft of said telephone, a plurality ofgraduated indicating members rotatably mounted within said frame, meansfor progressively rotating said indicating members to thereby visiblyregister the number dialed, a cam secured to the housing and adapted tocoast with said means, means for locking each indicating member after itregisters its selected position to thereby maintain in view the numberdialed, means for returning said indicating members to their normaldormant position when released and means for releasing said indicatingmembers during the time when a telephonic connection is being maintainedor at any time desired.

WILLIAM GREENBERG.

